The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-08

rules" The committee also saws, in regard ia
the attendants statement, that the patient was
throwing the hot water on himself with his
hands, that his hands were not scalded at all.
Hon. w. d. Foulke, of Richmond, the presl.
dent of the association. delivered an address Of
| considerable length. reviewing the record of the
| party OF spoils in managing State affairs. He
said:
| II the enemies of the civil-service reform are
| to be believed. it has already died a thousand
deaths With each unpopular appointment,
I with every failure to enforce the letter the
| spirit of the law, the spoilsnen announce hope
| fully that civil-service reform has at last been
| laid away in its final resting place. But some
how the new life which blossoms above the grave
| is always more vigorous and healthy than the
| old And to-day. on this, the second anniversary
| of our association we all know that in spite of
fragrant violations Of the law. in spite OF tho de-
| livery OF our Indiana civil service. both State
| and national into the hands of INSCRIPTIONS
| spoilsmen, there never has been a year in
which our reform las m ade one half the progress
| In popular opinion that it has in the year which
| has Just passed
In a government derived from the people. the
public conscience is the only ground ia which
reform principles can be planted. and their
growth assured. If the law comes prsmaturely.
an untoward circumstances may overthrow it, it
Is an artificial production, with no principle Of
life; but let the soil be prepared let the public
mind be made fallow by suitable agitation, and
reforms planted therein sure to develop by
natural laws into that stalwart life which can
disasters.
We have several tests to mark the growth Of
civil service reform in Indiana Three years
State failed in the only branch of the Legisla-
ture In which any one ever thought of introduce
ing it. In the last General Assembly reform
law, more comprehensive in its provisions,
passed the popular branch of the Legislature
upon the heels OF an election which has made
that reform direct issue. Hadsthe entire Gen.
eral Assembly been elected at that time, there
be rat nd sO-da
have a law as complete as that of Massachu-
setts New York, and that our benevolent in
blight of partisan control Tho last election
was the only one in history whore civil
service reform was distinct issue In prsvi-
GUS contests both parties generally gave it their
support in terms often purpossiy vague and I'M
defined or if there were an omission, it was
rather by accident than design. The question
was not considered important. But in the last
campaign, the platform Of one party distinctly
demanded the extension OF the national civil
services act to all subordinate administrative Of
fees to which 1t could be made applicable, and
the incorporation of it's principles into the leg
isation of this State as to withdraw tine man.
agemsnt of our State institutions from the field
of political strife. The other party omitted all
reference to this reform. The issue dis
tiuctly drawn, and the party which espoused
our cause won the clection-won it in spite of
the fact that it had been defeated by decided
majorities at the two preceding elections and
won it in a canvass in which issues affecting the
State only were the main matters in dispute
There are other things which contributed to
the change in the political outlook but the i'm
portauce of this Issue is con fessed by the advo-
Gates Of the spols system themselves, for oven
while contending that the charges made by this
association against the partisan management of
the Insane Hospital wero not sustained, they
conceded that they were extremely hurtful
But il this were true when nothing but the
general charges and denials were before the pub
hc the conviction of our people has become far
deeper now that the abuses in this great charity
have been laid bare in all their revolving details
hxrNh aA koEn to- lar .o1a
cations. So great has been tho public senti-
menr for the reform of these institutions that
the Governor OF the State found it unwiss to
leave the trustees In office, and Dr. Thomas III.
Harrison and Mr. Philip nj. Gapen were
pended, and although these men, in defiance Of
the command Of the executive. still continue to
exercise the duties of. Offices which they have
dishonorsd, and although there is q question as
to the Governors legal right to remove them,
his act is uudoubted evidence of the existence Of
public sentiment so strong thatit could not be
disregarded.
Other straws show the drift of the tide. A
little more than year ago the Democratic Edi-
it's president. Scott Ray, who denounced the
from, and said: "A Republican has no more
right to hold Office under q Democratic admins
tration than the devil has to taxa the sacra-
ment of Jesus Christ" The association re-
solved that the address fairly represented it's
views. and that If the civi!-service reform law
were repealed it would be in consistency with
Democratic principles. This year the associa-
ton met again, and, although the views of Mr.
Ray were not changed. an able address by B. F.
Louthain, Of the Logansport Pharos defended
the reform. He said: 81 believe that the time
Is not Ear distant when the principles of civil
service reform will be extended to our State in
stitutions and that our penal and benevolent
boards win be made up of resentatives Of
both political parties. 1 believe that such
course would be wise and proper. and likewise
beneficial to the Indiana Democracy. The
Democratic party of to-day must prove that it is
built upon something more substantial than the
spoils system. or the great organization which
l..
many generations will lose the confidence and
respect of the people" It is clear enough that
the leaven Of reform is at work.
has been two-fold: to spread the gospel of our
reform among the people and to point out ex-
listing abuses under tho old system. AS part Of
committee have held meetings and delivered ad-
dresses, setting forth the reasons for our reform
and the principles upon which it is based. These
meetings have been held at different points in
the State, not only upon occasions called for the
purpose. but in the course of other addresses.
political, literary and otherwise On of
these occasions a civil service reform club was
organized. At another time the Central Labor
Union, of Indianapolis. was addressed by Mr..
Lucius B. Swift, and the advantages Of the re-
form were clearly set forth with special refer
enee to the interests of the working men. It
has only been necessary so far TO tell the
grounds OF our own belief to find everywhere
new adherents to our principles. The people
only need to know just what civil-service reform
means There is not doubt after that concern
ing their acceptance of its principles Not only
have we sought to spread our gospel by the
living fire of the spoken word, but we have dis
seminated 1t every whero that we could by
written arguments. We have prepared many
articles for the press in various parts of the
State We have sought to secure the adoption
of civil-service reform principles by political
sociations We prepared bill for civil ssrv-
ice reform law which was introduced. and passed
by the House of Representatives in the last
General Assembly. But, most Important of all,
have we shown by the sad example of the
greatest of our benevolent institutions the cry
ing need of a reform which shall make il impos-
sible that the positions of trust in them
much longer remain the football of party
test. and the food for political corruption. The
critical and reformatory branch of our duties
has been the moro arduous. but a we believe,
it has also been the more useful part of our
labors.
During the last session of the General AS
sembly two Investigations were made, one by
the House aud the other by the Senate into the
u.aft ha InsanA Hasnital al